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U'khand begins reintroduction of 14 rare, endangered plant species into natural habitats
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Dehradun: The Uttarakhand forest department has launched what it claims is the country's first flora rehabilitation programme, focusing on the reintroduction of 14 Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) plant species into their natural habitats.
Botanists said these species are under severe threat from overexploitation, habitat degradation, climate change, and low regeneration – factors that have pushed many to the brink of extinction. The initiative aims to restore their habitats and ensure survival in the wild.
As part of the project, forest department researchers spent four years conducting rigorous groundwork in sub-zero temperatures across Himalayan altitudes ranging from 10,000 to 5,000 ft, collecting seeds, bulbs, and rhizomes of threatened species, many listed on the IUCN Red List, which were later successfully propagated at research labs in Auli, Munsyari, Mandal, and Gaja.
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pecies slated for rewilding under the programme include critically endangered plants like Gentiana kurroo (Traymana), Lilium polyphyllum (White Himalayan lily), Meizotropis pellita (Patwa), and Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi/Indian Spikenard). Endangered species include Aconitum heterophyllum (Atis), Podophyllum hexandrum (Van Kakri), and Pittosporum eriocarpum (Tumdi/Doon Cheesewood).
Paris polyphylla (Van Satuwa), listed as 'vulnerable', is valued in Ayurveda, Chinese, and Tibetan medicine for treating snake bites, burns, and spasms. The remaining species are also classified as threatened by the Uttarakhand biodiversity board. Officials said seven of the 14 species have already been reintroduced, with the rest to follow by the end of July.
Many of the targeted species are endemic to the Western Himalayas and hold immense ecological, medicinal, and cultural significance.
According to forest officials, these plants naturally occur in fragile habitats ranging from alpine meadows to tarai zones.
"This is India's first systematic trial of reintroducing RET plant species into their natural habitats. While past reintroduction programmes have focused on animals, this is the first initiative dedicated exclusively to RET flora," said Sanjiv Chaturvedi, chief conservator of forests (research wing), state forest dept, who is leading the project.
He added, "Thanks to the vision of our former forest officials, research labs were set up in remote high-altitude areas, allowing us to combine traditional knowledge with modern science. This synergy enabled successful propagation experiments and the revival of dwindling species."
